Streams of Mercy

On the first Sunday of the new year, we celebrated Epiphany, marking the arrival of the three kings who followed the star in the East from its rising, until it stopped over the place where Jesus was. We remember this event each January, not because such epiphanies no longer occur, but to remind us that they do.

This is the season when we watch for our own personal epiphanies, for those moments when we can catch sight of God at work in our lives. What Epiphany says to us is that God’s Kingdom is very near, awaiting only the moment of revelation and recognition. The difficulty is that so many times we don’t recognize the hand of God at work in our lives and in the lives of those we love.

Yesterday’s sermon challenged us to “follow the star.” What does it even mean to follow the star as we live from day to day in these uncertain time? With the continuing concern of a “triple-demic”; with Russian troops continuing their assault on Ukraine; with snowstorms and flooding and earthquakes and wildfires threatening parts of our land, and famine sweeping through Africa on a scale not seen in two decades? What does it mean to follow the star in any number of challenges in our individual lives?

To follow the star is to pick up the scattered pieces of our lives and live joyously with them; to follow the star is to find the bits and pieces of grace planted behind each problem we face; to follow the star is to live in faith that what happens to us does not have the final word; to follow the star is to live by the belief that if the God of grace is for us, nothing can be ultimately against us.

Scripture tells us that the wise men returned home another way. What joy would be ours if each of us would return from the experience of Christmas this year by another way, marked by following the star.

If only we would see in each experience the hand of God working in all things for our good and God’s glory; If only we could look beyond the struggle and difficulty of our daily lives toward all the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ; if only we could see the faithful love and grace of God manifest each day of our lives.

Something has happened that’s just too big for Christmas Day, or even the twelve days of Christmas! “The Word was made flesh and dwells among us full of grace and truth,” writes John in his gospel. The Message puts it this way: “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one of a kind glory, like Father like Son.”

Emmanuel, God is with us, forever more! What a wonderful gift to carry with us into this new year!

Elizabeth